The simple pleasures of home shine brighter
when the spirit of God intertwines our hearts
with His gentle Joy.
Showing posts with label Recipes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Recipes. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Garden Tour Tea Recipes. . .

One of the benefits of hosting Tea 
with a group of amazing friends, 
such as The Brunch Bunch, is trying new recipes!



Today, I'm sharing two recipes from A Garden Tour Tea 
recently held On Crooked Creek!



First, is my Spring Pea Salad!
Pictured here from a Ladies Salad Luncheon held in May.
The recipe is an adaption from my dear friend
Martha @ Lines from Linderhof! (here)


Spring Pea Salad

Ingredients:

1 (12 oz.) package frozen peas
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 small onion, chopped
1 rib celery, finely chopped
1/2 tsp. coarsely ground sea salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
1 Tbsp. lemon zest
1 Tbsp. freshly chopped basil
1/2 c. bacon bits (real bacon bits)

Directions:

Place the frozen peas into a colander
while preparing the dressing for the salad.

Fry 4 ~ 5 slices of bacon until crisp.
Drain and set aside.

Whisk together mayonnaise and 
sour cream with the salt and pepper.

Chop the basil, celery and onion and
 zest the lemon. Add to the dressing and
stir gently to blend.

Add the peas.
Stir gently until combined.
Refrigerate until serving.

Crumble the bacon and toss into
salad just before serving.

Makes:  6 ~ 8 servings.



Southern Lady March / April 2013.

Next, is my White Chocolate Fruit Tart!
Pictured here from page 85 of Southern Lady.
I was so~o~o busy enjoying my guests and serving, 
that I didn't take time to photograph my tart.



White Chocolate Fruit Tart

Ingredients:

1/2 (14 oz) pkg. refrigerated pie crust*
1 (8oz) pkg. cream cheese
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
1/2 cup sour cream
1 (3 oz) box white chocolate flavored 
              instant pudding and pie mix
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup milk

4 kiwis, peeled and sliced into quarters
1/2 (1~pound) container fresh strawberries, halved.
1 pint fresh blueberries
1 pint fresh raspberries

2 Tbsp. Apricot Preserves, melted.
Garnish: Whipped Topping

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

On a lightly floured surface, roll crust to a 12~inch circle. 
Fit crust into the bottom and up sides 
of a 9~inch tart pan with removable bottom.
Cut out a circle of parchment paper to cover bottom of crust.

Place pie weights in a single layer to cover parchment.
Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until lightly browned.
Remove pie weights and parchment, let cool completely in pan.

* I omitted the above by using a Marie Callender's 
frozen pie shell. Once cooled, I place the shell onto my cake
stand before filling and refrigerated until serving time.*

In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, confectioner's 
sugar, sour cream and the pudding mix. Beat with an electric
mixer at medium speed until smooth. Add cream and milk,
beating until smooth.

Spoon cream cheese mixture into prepared crust.
Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour.

When ready to serve, top with kiwis,
strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.
Brush fruit with Apricot preserves.
Add a dollop of Whipped topping to serve.

Makes: 6 ~ 8 servings.



The only thing better than basil with peas
and white chocolate with raspberries,
is sharing the fruits of your labors with friends!!!


A Garden Tour Tea Tablescape.(here)



Until next time. . .







Friday, May 3, 2013

May Day Brunch Recipes. . .


Just in time for your upcoming Mother's Day
or Graduation celebrations, 
I'm sharing On Crooked Creek's recipes
from our May Day Brunch (here) with
Yvonne @ StoneGable for On The Menu Monday!


Garden Chowder

Ingredients:

8 slices bacon, coarsely chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
2 (14oz.) cans cream~of~potato soup
1 (13oz.) can chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup milk
1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen chopped broccoli
1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen chopped cauliflower
1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen cut corn
1 tsp. snipped fresh dill

Directions:

In a 5~quart Dutch oven, over medium~high
heat, sauté bacon 3 minutes or until crisp.
With a slotted spoon, remove bacon, set aside.
Remove all but 2 tablespoons fat. Add onion
and pepper; sauté 3 minutes longer.

Stir in potato soup, broth, cream and milk;
bring to boiling. Add frozen vegetables and
return to boiling. Simmer, covered 10~to~12
minutes, or until vegetables are tender.

Add ½ tsp. salt, 1/8 tsp. pepper, the
bacon and dill.  Serve immediately!

Makes: 8 to 10 servings.


“Mr. Ed’s” Easy Cornbread

Ingredients:
1 ¼ cup all~purpose flour
 ¾ cup corn meal
 ¼ cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
 ½ tsp.  salt (optional)
1 cup milk
 ¼ cup vegetable oil
1 egg, beaten

Directions:
Heat oven to 400 degrees .
Grease an 8 ~9 inch pan or muffin pan.

Combine all the dry ingredients.
Stir in milk, egg and oil, mixing until
The dry ingredients are moistened.

Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.

Makes: 8 to 10 servings.




Herb Butter
Ingredients:

Basic Recipe
½ pound ( 2 sticks) unsalted butter
5 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs
   and / or herbal flowers
OR 5 teaspoons dried herbs  or
   2 ½ teaspoons herb seeds
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

Chop the herbs very finely or
pulverize the seeds.

Cream the butter and blend in
herbs and seasonings.

Shape as desired and chill OR
freeze up to 6 months.



Strawberries and Cream Pie



Ingredients:


1 cup semi~sweet chocolate chips
3 tsp. shortening
1 Oreo pie crust
  (or graham cracker crust)
1 8 (oz.) pkg. cream cheese
½ cup sugar
½ cup sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla
1 8(oz.) container Cool Whip

2 cups fresh strawberries, halved


Directions:

Combine chocolate chips and shortening
and melt in the microwave. Microwave
30 seconds and then stir. Microwave
15~20 seconds and stir again. Stir until
well combined and then pour about ¾ of
the mixture into the bottom of the crust and
refrigerate until firm.

Beat the cream cheese, sugar, sour cream
and vanilla until smooth.
Fold in the Cool Whip.

Pour or scoop the mixture into the crust
and refrigerate overnight.




Before serving:
Arrange the strawberries on top of the pie.
Microwave the remaining chocolate and
drizzle over the top.

Refrigerate, again, for about an hour
before serving.

Makes: 6 to 8 servings.



Be sure to visit Yvonne @ Stone Gable

www.stonegable.blogspot.com

You’ll come away 
filled with amazing inspirational
menu and recipe ideas for use 
with your own family meals!


May Day Brunch Tablescape (here)


Until next time. . .

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Celebrating 40 Years!!!

Today,

On Crooked Creek, April 24, 2013

"Mr. Ed" and I are helping our son celebrate his 40th birthday!



Our sons favorite cake is plain and simple. . .
yellow cake with milk chocolate frosting.



Since we will be celebrating a milestone of 40 years,
"Mr. Ed" and I embellished the frosting with peanut butter cups!



Wanting to make this birthday a bit more special for our son,
we decided to make him his favorite cake into cupcakes.

At the grocers to pick up the ingredients,
"Mr. Ed" and I found these over~sized parchment paper
cupcake liners. . .perfect for my over~sized muffin pan!



So~o~o. . .
while it hailed, thundered, lightening, 
rained and the wind howled,
"Mr. Ed" and I made a single layer cake 
and six over~size cupcakes.



* * * * * * * * * Tutorial * * * * * * * 

Once the cake and cupcakes were cooled,
I iced them with milk chocolate frosting. . .right from the can!



I cut two regular size peanut butter cups into half, 
then in half again to make the triangles for the center.



I cut two more regular size peanut butter cups 
 into 10 ~ 12 smaller pieces 
and "Mr. Ed" dropped them randomly on the tops.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Six over~sized cupcakes. . .



and one single layer cake.




All it took was. . .
1 package of Yellow Cake Mix
1 can of Milk Chocolate Frosting
8 single regular size Peanut Butter Cups
to make celebrating 40 years. . .

a piece of cake!


Until next time. . .


On Crooked Creek will be joining

www.stonegableblog.com


Be sure to visit for
amazing inspiration!


Saturday, April 6, 2013

Tea With A View Menu. . .

Two of my favorite Seasons of the year are
Spring and  Autumn!




So~o~o. . .
can you imagine the thrill of Spring's arrival
that goes through my being?




As soon as the Spring cleaning
On Crooked Creek is completed,
my thoughts are on entertaining!



Recently, I hosted a Tea With A View (here)
with my friend as we consultated and freshened
the back deck On Crooked Creek!

As promised. . .
here are the recipes for Tea for Two!




Green Salad with Walnuts and Chicken

Ingredients:
4 cups chopped green, leaf lettuce
4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
4 (8~ounce) cooked chicken breasts,
    chopped (about 6 cups)
4 plums,  pitted and sliced
1 cup toasted walnuts
8 ounces ricotta salata cheese, 
    crumbled

Lemon Thyme Dressing

Directions:
In a large bowl, toss together lettuces,
chicken, plums, walnuts, cheese 
and Lemon Thyme Dressing.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.




Lemon Thyme Dressing

Ingredients:

2/3 cup extra~virgin olive oil
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

In a small bowl, wish together oil,
lemon juice, thyme, salt and pepper.

Store covered in refrigerator up to 1 week.

Makes about 1 cup.

(An adaptation from Spring cottage , Spring 2013.) 




My friend and I agreed,
that while the Archer Farm Classic Water Crackers (right)
were good, we both preferred
Milton's Craft Bakers Roasted Garlic and Herb 
Multi~Grain Crackers (left)!




Raspberry Clafoutis

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups milk
4 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup all~purpose flour
3 cups fresh raspberries
Garnish: fresh mint

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray 8 small ramekins or creme brulee
dishes with nonstickcooking spray.

In a large bowl, whisk together
milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt.
Slowly whisk in flour. 
Beat well until no lumps remain.
Mixture should be the consistency 
of thin pancake batter.

Arrange raspberries in a single
layer in prepared dishes, and top
each with batter. (About 1/3 cup)

Bake 30 minutes or until center
is set and top is lightly browned.
Serve warm or at room temperature.
Garnish with mint, if desired.

Makes 8 servings.




A beautiful Spring morning
that lasted into early afternoon. . .

like a breath of fresh air 
a clean and refreshed back deck. . .

all combined with the conversation, 
joys and laughter of a dear friend!!!



At long last. . .
 Spring arrives On Crooked Creek!


Until next time. . .


On Crooked Creek will be joining

www.stonegable.blogspot.com
Yvonne @ StoneGable for
On The Menu Monday!

Be sure to visit 
for some delicious menu selections 
for your own family and entertaining!

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Bread. . .

Bread. . .
is the one food I can not go without!

And, dear ones, this banana nut bread 
has truly gone straight to my taste buds!!!



A true vision of loveliness. . .
this is a light, heavenly taste of sweetness 
that surpasses any I've ever tasted!!!



The most difficult part of this recipe
is waiting for the bread to cool before slicing!!!




While living in the Colorado Springs area,
I taught at Widefield Recreation Center Pre~School!
One of my students mothers shared her Grandmother's 
homemade Banana Nut Bread recipe with me. . .
and it is truly the b e s t nut bread e v e r!!!

Banana Nut Bread:

2 1/2 cups all~purpose flour
1 cup sugar
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

1 egg
3 tablespoons salad oil
3/4 cup milk
1 cup mashed ripe bananas

1 cup finely chopped nuts (pecans)



Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease and flour 9" X 5" X 3" loaf pan or
two 8 1/2" X 4 1/2" X 2 1/2" loaf pans.

Measure all the dry ingredients into a large bowl, set aside.

In a medium size bowl, peel and slice the bananas.
Using a fork, mash the bananas.
Add the remaining wet ingredients.

With an electric mixer, beat on medium speed about 1 minute.
Fold in the finely chopped nuts.

Pour into pan(s).
Bake 55 to 65 minutes or
until a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean.
Remove from pan;
cool thoroughly before slicing!


I chose to make one loaf of banana nut bread. . .
and six banana nut bread muffins!

"Give us this day our daily bread". . .



Until next time. . .


On Crooked Creek will be joining

www.dearlittlehouse.blogspot.com
Mary @ Little Red House for
Thursday's Inspirations!



Be sure to visit

for you’ll come away
filled with amazing inspirations!